Monday, February 28, 2011

Today on Facebook, Virna DePaul posted the cover for the 2nd book in her Para-Ops series, Chosen By Fate:

Chosen By Fate will be published in October 2011. You can read more about Chosen By Fate at Virna's Facebook photos here.

Virna's debut novel, Chosen By Blood (A Para-Ops Novel 1) will be released on May 3, 2011:

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn- humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA-still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

I love how the title and shirts are the same color! The Qwillery will have an interview with Virna in May 2011.

It's Monday and the last day of February. Time flies when you are being inundated with snow! This is a very busy week at The Qwillery. There will be three interviews and giveaways: Seanan McGuire on Tuesday, Dakota Cassidy on Wednesday, and debut author Hannah Jayne on Thursday.

Comics will be pushed to Friday with photos moving to Saturday this week.

There are a lot of books being released tomorrow, March 1, 2011. A printable list in spreadsheet format is available here. A printable list in PDF format is available here.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

I'm trying a bit of an experiment. I made a Google Document with a spreadsheet showing the speculative fiction books that I own. I haven't read them all. Some books that I own are not in the database yet.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

When I was at New York Comic Con in October 2010, I carried around a couple of wooden bats for signatures. Not baseball bats, the mammel kind of bat. I gave one away in last year's Blogversary giveaways. I kept the other one for myself. So here it is. The key to the signatures is below.

Friday, February 25, 2011

I stopped my my ex-Borders, or as I've taken to calling it Forders (Formerly Borders), to see the carnage. I hope that the people who are swarming the shop for a mere 20% off realize that had they shopped there regulary and become a BordersPlus member they would have gotten a lot more off most of the time. I'd like to remind them to treat with respect both the former Borders employees who are now working for the liquidators to wind down the store as well as the books. The store is ashambles - CDs left on the book shelves by someone who decides they really don't want them, books placed wherever for the same reason, shelves in disarray, books damaged.

Please people... be respectful, be kind. I am thinking very dark thoughts about some of my fellow human beings these days when I see how they act. Behave yourselves!

From the Horror books section

Around the store

The cafe was closed the day before the liquidation sale started. Now the cafe supplies are on sale.

﻿

I will continue to visit my Forders until the bitter end if only to be supportive of the staff.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

It’s bloodsuckers vs. bloodsucker, as Kurt Busiek brings an incredibly modern spin to the Dracula mythos. The enemy of my enemy is…my ally? With Dracula's forces fully amassed, Evan and vampire hunter Marta must team-up to bring down the king of monsters before he brings our world under his dominion! The ongoing horror series from the mind of Kurt Busiek continues!BOOM! Studios

While Randal Six desperately tries to solve the puzzle of his escape and Deucalion's advice is sought in the pursuit of the rogue Detective Harker, Victor returns home to discover his telekinetic experiment Karloff dead. Victor first suspects Karloff has gotten around his programming regarding self-termination, but that's not what his video surveillance reveals... the tension is upped in the latest issue of Dean Koontz' FRANKENSTEIN!

From the masterly pen of New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz-and featuring an adaptation by legendary comic book writer Chuck Dixon-Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is a story filled with fast-paced action, gripping horror, and thrilling adventure.Dynamite Entertainment

As you know if you read this blog I collected all the availble covers of True Blood, Vol. 1. See here and here. Yesterday marked the release of Volume 2 of the True Blood comic. It's subtitled "Tainted Love." There are 7 covers for Issue 1.

Cover A (art by J. Scott Campbell)

Cover B (art by Joe Corroney)

Our friends in Bon Temps just can’t seem to catch a break these days. Sookie Stackhouse's world is turned upside down when contaminated bottles of Tru Blood cause the Southern Vampire population to go berserk! Looks like those growing human/vampire tensions aren’t going to simmer down anytime soon! But who (or what) is behind the bad "Blood"? And Hoyt plans to do what for Jessica?! The latest "head-turning" story arc of the True Blood comic series starts here!IDW Publishing

Retail Incentive Covers A & B

In addition there are variant covers by Dynamic Forces, Hastings, and Jetpack Comics.

In this lost tale of Skinner Sweet, it's 1924 when the first American vampire crosses paths with a Wild West show featuring some old pals and enemies from his outlaw days – and he is not happy. From the dying West to flying biplanes, we see how Skinner adjusts to life in the 20th century. Featuring stunning art by Danijel Zezelj (NORTHLANDERS, LUNA PARK).Vertigo

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Please welcome Rebecca Zanetti to The Qwillery as part as part of our 2011 Debut Author Challenge interviews.

TQ: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Rebecca: Well, okay. It’s odd, but I can’t write without wearing socks. My feet are usually cold. Even in the summer when I’m wearing shorts and a tank. The thing is…I don’t care if they match. So I’ve opened the door to the UPS guy wearing shorts and one fuzzy red sock, and one blue sock with green stripes. He thinks I’m weird.

TQ: Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Rebecca: I like Nora Roberts, Cynthia Eden, Lora Leigh, Sayde Grace, J.R. Ward and of course, J.D. Salinger. The first romance I ever read was one of Nora Robert’s MacGregor books and I was hooked for life.

TQ: Are you a plotter or a panster?

Rebecca: I’m a panster. In fact, I write my first draft and then go back and really get to know my characters to layer the details throughout the book. I’ve tried to fill out those character worksheets before starting a new book, but by the time I get to the third question, I have a scene in my head I just need to write. Then I never quite make it back to the worksheet. At least, until the first draft is finished.

TQ: What inspired you to write Fated?

Rebecca: This story wouldn’t leave me alone. I’d heard on the writing loops that editors were NOT looking for any vampire books. But this one kept bugging me, so I wrote it for myself, just for fun. It sold in five days from my sending out the first query.

TQ: What sort of research did you do for Fated?

Rebecca: Actually, I wrote the vampire world the way I want the vampire world to be. My vamps are tough and only take blood in extreme situations like battle…or sex. But I did brush up on string theory and quantum physics to explain some of their abilities.

TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in the book?

Rebecca: The hero in FATED is a complete alpha male without question. Soldier, vampire and leader. So when he lets his guard down and shows an unexpected sweet side, I think it really works. I love that kind of situation. And then, of course, he goes off to fight the bad guys with no mercy.

TQ: How many books are planned for the Dark Protectors series? Will there be any short stories or novellas set in the Dark Protectors' world?

Rebecca: Right now I have nine books I’d like to write that would complete the overall story arc. I’m not sure about novellas…that depends on my publisher. I’d love to write one or two with secondary characters.

TQ: What's next?

Rebecca: Book two in the Dark Protector series is called CLAIMED and will be released in October. It features the king of the vampire world and a feisty scientist. Book three is HUNTED and I’m finishing it right now—I think the release date is summer of 2012.

TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Rebecca: Thanks for having me! These questions were a lot of fun. J

About Rebecca's Books

Fated
(Dark Protector 1)
February 22, 2011

Marry Me

Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But “whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem…

Or Else

Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice…

Claimed (Dark Protector 2) will be published in October 2011. Hunted (Dark Protector 3) will be publishedi n 2010.

About Rebecca

Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about vampires and science. She is a member of RWA and several of its chapters and has won awards for her works throughout the industry.She currently writes the Dark Protector series from Kensington Publishing and is represented by Caitlin Blasdell at Liza Dawson Associates.

What: One commenter will win a signed copy of Fated directly from Rebecca!

How: Leave a comment telling The Qwillery the name of your alpha vampire? Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The winner of First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson 1) by Darynda Jones

Kelly M. who said

"Black!!!!

although I do really like Charcoal Gray too"

****************************************************************

The winner of Darkness Dawns (Immortal Guardians 1) by Dianne Duvall

DarkBloodyVamp who said...

If I had to pick what time period my Immortal Guardian would come from for some reason I think he would come from the 1700's England. I don't know but for some reason there is something about how a man was a man at that time and he could sweep a woman off her feet. Plus I would just love hearing words being whispered into my ears in a British accent. Yummy! :)

****************************************************************

The winner of A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair 1) by Allison Pang

RA said...

I would love to have a grimlin in my underwear drawer.

Winners have been notified and have until Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 11:59 PM to respond or The Qwillery will randomly pick a new winner or winners. Thank you to everyone who participated!

The Qwillery is delighted to welcome Anton Strout, author of the Simon Canderous series. Anton's latest book, Dead Waters, is available today. You can read my 5 Qwill review of Dead Watershere.

TQ: Describe the Simon Canderous series in 140 characters or less.

Anton: Man with bat strives to Do Good, fighting evil and staying under budget in paranormally infested New York City

TQ: How have Simon's psychometric powers evolved since the first book?

Anton: I think much of his power has stayed relatively the same, it's Simon that has changed... he has better control over it, but there are certain things that have happened over time where we've seen little tweaks to it. In Dead Matter, we saw Simon use his powers in conjunction with Jane's technomancy to broadcast one of his psychometric visions. In Dead Waters, we're going to see Simon struggling with some of the emotional states that he ends up 'feeling' when he does particular emotionally charged readings with his powers.

TQ: You write primarily Urban Fantasy. In what other genre(s) would you like to write?

Anton: I'd love to try my hand at more traditional fantasy, but right now I'm having a lot of fun working on a yet unsold YA steampunk book that I keep calling my Dickensian urchin Iron Man book... I dabble a lot. I even do regular fiction, such as my fictional punk band book I keep meaning to get back to, but the UF is the one paying the bills these days, so that's where my time goes.

TQ: Who is your favorite secondary character or characters?

Anton: I really have a lot of love for my secondary characters, which is why they either become the topic of books or some of the short stories. I love Godfrey, but that's because I totally see him as John Hodgman. And I love the Inspectre because he's part of the old guard, and with Dead Waters, I wanted to explore his past again, his time in his prime, as well as what it means to get old in the world of fighting evil.

TQ: Without giving anything away, what it your favorite scene or scenes in Dead Waters?

Anton: I love all of my scenes out on the Hudson River in the boat... something about floating on the calm water just outside the city as all kinds of paranormal hell breaks loose that makes me giggle like a kindergartener.

TQ: What is the playlist for Dead Waters?

Anton: Well, I always have Beat On The Brat by the Ramones in my head while I write, along with the Fight Club soundtrack, the Matrix and some Bach for the lighter moments. I also think I listened to a lot of Alien Ant Farm's The Movies and The Cranberries Zombie.

TQ: How many books are planned for the Simon Canderous series? Are there any upcoming short stories/novellas set in the Simonverse?

Anton: Well, I'D like the series to go on, but that's really not up to me at the moment. I have at least two more books semi-planned out, but I may be putting some time into a second series soon... more on that later when I have something to share.

TQ: What's next?

Anton: Hopefully I'll get to shop around the YA in a month or so. I have a zombie apocalypse short coming up in the March anthology After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar and I owe two stories to some editors out there... one of them a modern day fairie story and one a Weird West kinda tale. And then there's that little bit of news I can't discuss yet :D

A new urban fantasy featuring a man working on the right side of law-with talents that come from left field.

Psychometry-the power to touch an object and divine information about its history-has meant a life of petty crime for Simon Canderous, but now he's gone over to the good side. At New York's underfunded and (mostly) secret Department of Extraordinary Affairs, he's learning about red tape, office politics, and the basics of paranormal investigation. But it's not the paperwork that has him breathless.

After Simon spills his coffee on (okay, through) the ghost of a beautiful woman- who doesn't know she's dead-he and his mentor plan to find her killers. But Simon's not prepared for the nefarious plot that unfolds before him, involving politically correct cultists, a large wooden fish, a homicidal bookcase, and the forces of Darkness, which kind of have a crush on him.

It’s been 737 days since the Department of Extraordinary Affairs’ last vampire incursion, but that streak appears to have ended when a boat full of dead lawyers is found in the Hudson River. Using the power of psychometry—the ability to divine the history of an object by touching it—agent Simon Canderous discovers that the booze cruise was crashed by something that sucked all the blood out of the litigators. Now, his workday may never end—until his life does.

The spirit populace of Manhattan doesn't appreciate its well-deserved RIP being disturbed, and Department of Extraordinary Affairs Agent Simon Canderous is sent in to do damage control. Meanwhile, his vacationing partner, Connor Christos, is in a sorry state, and he tells Simon that each night he's being haunted by visions of his long-lost brother at his window. Simon is worried that his partner may be going crazy-or worse, maybe he's not...

Dead Waters

Simon Canderous 4

Ace, February 22, 2012

Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

From the back cover:

With Manhattan's Department of Extraordinary Affairs in disarray (forget vampires and zombies -- it's the budget cuts that can kill you), Simon Canderous is still expected to stamp out any crime that adds the "para" to normal." And his newest case is no exception...

A university professor has been found murdered in his apartment. His lungs show signs of death by drowning. But his skin and clothes? Bone-dry. Now Simon has to rely on his powers -- plus a little help from his ghost-whispering partner and technomancer girlfriend -- to solve a mystery that has the NYPD stumped and the D.E.A. shaken and stirred.

Anthologies:

2007 2008 2009 2010

2011

About Anton

Fantasy author Anton Strout was born in the Berkshire Hills mere miles from writing heavyweights Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville and currently lives in the haunted corn maze that is New Jersey (where nothing paranormal ever really happens, he assures you).

He has been a featured speaker and workshopper at San Diego Comic-Con, Gencon, New York Comic-Con, the Brooklyn Book Festival.

He is the co-creator of the faux folk musical Sneezin’ Jeff & Blue Raccoon: The Loose Gravel Tour (winner of the Best Storytelling Award at the First Annual New York International Fringe Festival).

In his scant spare time, his is a writer, a sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the worlds most casual and controller smashing video gamer. He currently works in the exciting world of publishing and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds.

What: One commenter will win signed copies of the 1st 3 Simon Canderous books: Dead to Me, Deader Still, and Dead Matter.

How: Leave a comment telling The Qwillery what is your power? Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who & When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

Monday, February 21, 2011

It's Monday and it's snowing. Fortunately it's not a big storm. I'm glad because I've things to do today.

The Qwillery will have 2 interviews and giveaways this week: Anton Strout on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, and Rebecca Zanetti on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. Rebecca's debut novel Fated and Anton's 4th Simon Canderous novel, Dead Waters, will be published tomorrow.

There will be comics on Thursday and photos on Friday unless something unexpected comes up... which happens all the time.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Here is my list of March 2011 releases. Covers for anthologies are below. If there is something that I've missed, please leave a comment. Also note that this list is always under revision. Please note that publication dates change. I try to keep this as accurate as possible. You can see many of the covers at The Qwillery's March 2011 Releases album at Facebook.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

My local Borders is closing. As a matter of fact, many of the Borders in my area are closing. This will leave me with no Borders nearby. There is a B&N 10 minutes away. I'm not going to drive 30 minutes to go to a small Borders. There's just no reason to do that. My Borders is not actually a Borders anymore. It's being run by the liquidators as of today.

But it's not Borders that I am going to miss, it's the staff. The staff at my local Borders was wonderful. I feel absolutely horrible for them. They started as my booksellers and became my friends, friends who I will see long after this Borders is closed. I wish them very, very best.

Friday, February 18, 2011

I'm still sad that my local Borders is closing so to cheer myself up, I'm going to post pictures of something that always makes me smile. No, not my TBR bookcases. A panda! These are photos that I took of Tai Shan at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. They were taken in April 2007.

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In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, The Qwillery would like everyone to know that most books that are reviewed at the The Qwillery are provided for free by the publisher or author unless otherwise noted.